10 October 2002
Pretoria - The National Minister of Public Works, Ms Stella Sigcau will officially open the R20 million rural access road at Raap and Skraap farm near Upington in the Northern Cape as part of the government Imbizo focus week on Saturday 12 October 2002.
Two days later, (14 October 2002) the Minister, accompanied by Minister Charles Nqakula of Safety and Security and the Northern Cape MEC for Safety and Security, Ms Connie Seopesengwe, will lay the foundation stone to mark the commencement of the construction of a R30 million Galeshewe Community Safety Centre near Kimberley.
Immediately thereafter she will proceed to open the R8, 4 million restored and renovated Old Magistrate Court Building also at Kimberley, which has been declared a National Heritage Site. The restoration is part of the government's campaign to renew city centres and attract investment and boost tourism.
For the Raap and Skraap road, the National Department of Public Works contributed R10 million as part of its rural infrastructure development initiative called Community Based Public Works Programme (CBPWP). Additional R7, 5 million was funded by the Provincial Department of Transport and the Karsten Boerdery (Local Farmers) made available R2, 5 million.
Labour-intensive construction methods were used during construction to create job opportunities for the 80 locals as well 47 additional jobs for the retrenched workers from the Siyanda District Municipality.
The road is essential to create access to economic opportunities particularly for the grape-growing and wine-producing local farmers who depend on the healthy road networks for the export purposes.
In Kimberley, the Department of Public Works is currently constructing a R30 million Community Safety Centre for the community of Galeshewe. Once completed, the centre will house the SAPS, Correctional Services, Justice, Home Affairs and Social Development at one precinct, as an effort to bring essential government services closer to the previously disadvantaged communities.
Built entirely by prisoners under the supervision of the Department of Public Works in 1881, the Old Magistrate Court Building has over 100 years served various needs of government, notably the dispensing of justice. Since mid 1990's the structure stood in a state of disrepair, until renovated and restored, in a delicate operation, by the Department of Public Works for R8,4 million.
Today the Building houses the Regional Offices of the National Department of Public Works and blends well with the architecture of the Kimberley to enhance tourism.